“You can do it!” a spectator yelled as I single-sticked my way up a vertical pitch. I crested the summit and with wobbly legs, dropped into a tuck and blasted the descent.
Despite a very disappointing year for snow in Europe, rumor was that there was still snow in Switzerland. We drove there from Munich, which was spring like, with not a snow pile in site.
Last Michigan Cup Race of the season! The Muffin Race, held at the Cross Country Ski Headquarters, was a junior-only race. Racers did an 8km classic race, then an 8km freestyle race, pursuit-style.
It was a little worrisome, what with the warm weather and rain leading up to the Michigan Cup Relays, but the Cross Country Ski Headquarters spread man-made snow where they could and farmed snow elsewhere to successfully keep the course covered.
The Muffin Race was incorrectly listed in the NordicSkiRacer event calendar for Saturday and is actually taking place this Sunday, March 19th. If you are going the race, make sure you show up on the correct day!
Two former U.P. college skiers took the victories in the 50km skiathlon: former Michigan Tech standout Deedra Irwin of Pulaski, Wisconsin, and Northern Michigan alumnus Kyle Bratrud of Marquette, Michigan. Bratrud eked out the win by just 1.4 seconds
Rebecca Davis and Sam Holmes win Michigan Cup senior titles in close racing.
Great Bear Chase! Michigan Cup Relays! Fast Wax! Toko! Swix! Solda! But only a weather report for the Relays so far....
It was a close battle throughout the year but HH/CCSS was able to come from behind with a great team effort at the Black Mountain races!
UPDATED. Sunday's 11km Black Mountain Freestyle Race did not have the weather or groomer issues like the classic race the day before but a few rogue snowmobile incursions onto the trail had to be smoothed out, delaying the start by 5 minutes.
UPDATED. The largest snow fall of the season, the coldest night of the season, not enough ice on the lake start/finish area, frozen gas lines on one of the groomers on race day, but the end result was spectacular!
With the upcoming NCAA skiing championship being held in Jackson, New Hampshire, the Central Region is sending its top athletes to compete along with the top collegiate skiers in the country. The Nordic events will take place on March 9 and 11.